Will California Ban Out-of-State Diesel Motorhomes?

Would you have ever guessed that California, the state known for its laid-back and easygoing attitude, would be waging war on out-of-state diesel motorhomes? It’s true.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is crucial in the state’s efforts to address air pollution and protect public health. Because of its work to regulate air quality, the CARB has become an important voice on issues related to emissions, vehicle regulations, and more.

One significant area where the CARB has been influential is in the realm of diesel motorhomes.

With growing concerns about harmful emissions from these large vehicles, California has discussed adopting restrictions limiting out-of-state residents from accessing specific public spaces. It’s unclear precisely what form such restrictions might take. Still, it seems clear that the CARB will play a key role in shaping this conversation, thanks to its considerable expertise and experience in this area and its close ties with other agencies and organizations working on this.

As reported by the RV Industry Association, they are “…developing a Heavy-Duty Inspection/Maintenance regulatory concept to ensure that non-gasoline powered vehicles greater than 14,000 lbs. operating in California (including vehicles registered out of state) have properly functioning emissions control systems. While this is only a regulatory concept right now, CARB said the intention is that it will eventually become a regulation that would establish a smog check program for heavy-duty diesel.”

While there are sure to be many debates and disagreements along the way, one thing seems inevitable: it will be up to the experts at the CARB to help guide this process and ensure that everyone’s interests are taken into account.

California Senate Bill 210

This bill aims to combat air pollution by limiting vehicle emissions for all motor vehicles operating within the state’s borders. Specifically, it targets diesel motorhomes, as they tend to be much larger and more powerful than conventional RVs due in part to their strong diesel engines.

And because they’re often used by a single driver rather than a family or group of travelers, they can unintentionally contribute more emissions to the environment through inefficient driving practices and poor fuel efficiency.

Thus, Senate Bill 210 is designed to prevent these polluting vehicles from causing further harm to California’s air quality while encouraging their owners to choose greener transportation options in the future. It requires diesel motorhome owners to obtain a certificate of compliance with the bill’s standards before operating their vehicles within California.

But how much will this actually help the state’s air quality problem? Critics say that the bill’s emissions standards are too low to make a significant difference and that it does nothing to address the root cause of California’s air pollution issue: its dependence on cars and trucks. They also argue that the bill unfairly targets out-of-state residents, who may not be aware of the state’s emissions regulations.

Supporters counter that the bill is a necessary first step in combating air pollution and will help set a precedent for future legislation. They also point out that many other states have adopted similar restrictions on diesel motorhomes, so California is not alone in its efforts. Only time will tell whether this bill will successfully dent the state’s air pollution problem.

The CARB has been a strong supporter of this bill, which is currently making its way through the state legislature. If it becomes law, it would be a significant victory for the agency and its efforts to improve air quality in California.

Banning the Sale of New Gas or Diesel Vehicles by 2035

California has become the first state in the US to commit to banning the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars and trucks by 2035, a move signaling a major acceleration in the shift to electric vehicles.

The state’s air resources board voted unanimously to approve the regulation, which will require that all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California be zero-emission vehicles by 2035. The rule will also require that medium- and heavy-duty trucks achieve the same milestone by 2045.

The regulation is a major victory for environmentalists and a significant step forward for California’s efforts to combat climate change. It builds on the state’s existing mandate that requires 15% of new car sales to be zero-emission vehicles by 2025 and follows a similar pledge made by the UK earlier.

Critics have argued that the 2035 deadline is too ambitious and could force consumers to purchase more expensive electric vehicles before they are ready. Still, California officials say the regulation is necessary to meet the state’s climate goals and will ultimately save consumers money on fuel and maintenance costs.

The regulation is expected to face legal challenges from the auto industry — but California has a long history of leading the way on emissions standards, and an upcoming vote is likely to spur other states to follow suit.

The RV Industry Association’s Fight

After the state ruling that would require all diesel motorhomes entering the state to be equipped with a filter that traps particulate matter or soot, The RV Industry Association and their partners have fought hard against it.

They argue that the technology to make these filters does not exist and would be too expensive to implement. They also argue that California does not have the right to dictate what type of vehicles other states can bring into their borders.

The state has responded by arguing that the technology exists, that the cost is not as prohibitive as the industry claims, that California has a right to protect its citizens from harmful air pollution, and that out-of-state diesel motorhomes are a significant source of that pollution.

The battle continues with no end in sight. Meanwhile, Californians are left wondering if they can ever enjoy the freedom of the open road in their own state without worrying about breathing in harmful emissions. Whichever side prevails, it’s clear that this issue will have a lasting impact on the state of California and the RV industry as a whole.

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